Shouting anti-state government slogans, around 70 Samajwadi Chatrasabha members reportedly smashed the college furniture. Later, they also tried to stop higher education minister Rakesh Dhar Tripathi and urban development minister Nakul Dubey from entering the function.

The drama continued for around 40 minutes. Wearing black badges on their arms, the members demanded restoration of students’ union elections at the earliest.

“We will intensify our protest if the government fails to comply with our demand,” said national vice-president of Samajwadi Chatrasabha Rajpal Kashyap.

Students also scuffled with police officers and tried to disrupt the cultural programme at the auditorium. The students, who had managed to enter the auditorium before the start of the programme, started raising slogans against the state government when Tripathi was about to deliver his speech.

Reacting sharply, Tripathi said the government will not tolerate such protests by student leaders. “In a democratic country like ours, everyone has the right to protest. But a violent protest like this will not be tolerated,” he said.

There is no place for criminals in students’ union politics, added the minister.